Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday sought all-out cooperation from the government in holding its Sunday's rally at Suhrawardy Udyan peacefully as its chief Khaleda Zia is scheduled to address it.

"We hope the government will extend all-out cooperation to us in holding the rally. A ruling party leader said yesterday (Tuesday) they haven't' put any objection to our rally and there's barrier to staging such a rally. We hope these words will come out true," said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, he also said they want to hold the rally peacefully maintaining discipline. "Our Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be present at the programme as the chief guest."

Fakhrul said though they still did not get permission for the rally, they hope they will get it in due time.

He also said the government will demonstrate that it believes in democracy and people's right to expression by allowing them to hold the rally.

The press conference was held after a joint meeting of BNP, its associate bodies and the leaders of different districts adjacent to Dhaka to make the rally a success.

Fakhrul said they could not properly observe the 'National Revolution and Solidarity Day' marking civil-military 'uprising on November 7, 1975', as they were not allowed to visit their party founder Ziaur Rahman's grave in the name of the 63rd conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) in parliament area. "We hope now we'll be allowed to hold the rally."

On Friday, the party announced to hold the rally at the Suhrawardy Udyan on Wednesday on the occasion of November 7.

It was later shifted to Sunday for various reasons, including the CPA conference.